Ms Majella Darcy:

We are a homeless organisation so why are we in this sphere of health and addiction? It is in response to the need that has arisen. I started ten years ago when it was mainly alcohol detoxing we were doing, but we have had to adapt to the situation that faces us. There is now polydrug use, people are living more chaotic lives and they are more excluded from services. It is the only reason we exist in terms of providing addiction and health care. I also mentioned the bedsits.

Senator Burke mentioned a health package of €134,000 for one person, but if one looks at the amount of funding NGOs get, probably five times that would put 71 people through a detox programme for three weeks. The NGOs are running services at a pittance. It needs to be acknowledged. I do not think NGOs should be supplementing what the State should be doing.